lamplighter

American  

[lamp-lahy-ter] / ˈlæmpˌlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a person employed to light and extinguish street lamps, especially those burning gas.

2. a contrivance for lighting lamps.

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lamplighter British  

/ ˈlæmpˌlaɪtə /

noun

1. (formerly) a person who lit and extinguished street lamps, esp gas ones

2. any of various devices used to light lamps

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Etymology

Origin of lamplighter

First recorded in 1740–50; lamp + lighter ¹

Example Sentences

The books took his readers deep into "the circus" with jargon such as "honey trap", "mole" and "lamplighter" becoming common parlance.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2020

In “Mary Poppins Returns,” Mr. Miranda’s lamplighter, Jack, leads an athletic dance number, much in the way the chimney sweep Bert led “Step in Time.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2018

Opposite Emily Blunt, who assumes the role of the magical Banks family nanny that Julie Andrews won an Oscar for, Miranda plays a lamplighter, or leerie, named Jack, a character not found in P.L.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2018

For Disney, he’s already finished shooting the new “Mary Poppins” sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns,” starring Emily Blunt and Miranda playing Jack, a London lamplighter.

From Washington Post • May 31, 2018

A lamplighter scuttled along the edges of the crowd igniting the gas jets atop cast-iron poles.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson